Police say ID-theft gang led I-76 chase
An alleged gang involved in identity theft led police on a chase Tuesday afternoon that started at a Wendy's parking lot in Chester County and ended on I-76 with one suspect attempting to flee into the Schuylkill, authorities said.
An alleged gang involved in identity theft led police on a chase Tuesday afternoon that started at a Wendy's parking lot in Chester County and ended on I-76 with one suspect attempting to flee into the Schuylkill, authorities said.
Seven people from Florida and Maryland who are associated with the "Felony Lane Gang" were arrested, said Anthony Giaimo, Tredyffrin Township police superintendent.
Around 1:30 p.m., police were called to the restaurant on West Swedesford Road in Tredyffrin to investigate a report that people were switching license plates on a gray Dodge Journey and a black Chevrolet Suburban.
When police arrived, the Suburban took off, hitting a police cruiser as it fled, Giaimo said. The SUV hit the same cruiser on Swedesford Road.
The pursuit continued onto northbound Route 202 and then onto eastbound I-76, where it struck a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle. Finally, the Suburban encountered heavy traffic before the Belmont exit and was forced to stop.
Two people ran from the vehicle, including a man who ran across the interstate and jumped into the Schuylkill, Giaimo said. The man was retrieved from the river and taken to Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Near the Suburban, someone tried to toss identity documents over a chain-link fence. Police recovered the documents, which included driver's licenses and credit cards, authorities said.
Back at the Wendy's, police blocked the Dodge Journey from leaving, and three people were arrested. Identity documents also were found in that SUV. The documents were stolen from child-care centers and other locations, Giaimo said.
Police arrested Sherry Howard, 48, of Baltimore. She was the alleged driver of the Suburban involved in the police chase.
Also arrested from the Suburban were Keenon Seymour, 18, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Jeremy Espenshade, 28, of Baltimore; and Jerome Glinton, of Fort Lauderdale. Glinton was identified as the river jumper.
Three people were arrested at the Wendy's: Heather Miller, 29, of Baltimore; Jeremy Evans, 40, of Baltimore; and Ashley Hamm, 22, of Fort Lauderdale.
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